Production Manager (Seafood Industry)

Location: Atlantis Industrial, Western Cape (Western Seaboard or Blaauwberg regions)
Reports to: Operations Manager
Contract Type: Permanent, subject to a six-month probation period
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:30
Additional Hours: Flexibility is required to work weekends and public holidays when operationally necessary.
EE Status: Open
Preferred Start Date: As soon as possible
Industry: Import/ Export of Seafood 

JOB PURPOSE

The Production Manager is responsible for overseeing production operations, ensuring that approved production plans are achieved efficiently, safely and in accordance with quality standards.

The role focuses on production planning and execution, yield optimisation, waste reduction, operational performance, traceability, workforce management and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will be accountable for ensuring that production teams, processes, equipment and systems operate effectively to meet business requirements.

REQUIREMENTS

• At least five years' experience in a similar role within an FMCG or manufacturing environment.

• Proven experience managing high-volume production operations and production teams.

• Strong knowledge of production planning, scheduling and capacity management.

• Experience in yield management, waste reduction and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Sound understanding of food safety, quality standards and traceability processes.

• Experience working with production management systems, preferably Marel/Innova.

• Knowledge of Bills of Materials (BOMs), packaging specifications and inventory control processes.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Experience managing production performance, key performance indicators (KPIs), operational reporting and establishing production standards.

• Proven leadership experience, including the ability to manage, coach and develop supervisors and production teams.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, particularly Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams and OneDrive.

• Ability to work under pressure and make sound operational decisions.

• Knowledge of labour relations, performance management and workforce supervision.

• Commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, hygiene and operational discipline.

• A relevant tertiary qualification in production, supply chain or operations management would be advantageous.

• Experience in the protein industry, such as meat, fish or dairy, where yield management is critical, would be advantageous.

• Knowledge of HACCP and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) would be advantageous.

• Flexibility to work additional hours, weekends and public holidays according to operational requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum experience:

• At least five years' experience in a similar role within an FMCG or manufacturing environment.

• A relevant tertiary qualification in production, supply chain or operations management would be advantageous.

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Production planning, scheduling and capacity management.

• Yield management, waste reduction and continuous improvement.

• Food safety, quality control and traceability.

• Marel/Innova production management systems.

• Bills of Materials, packaging specifications and inventory control.

• Microsoft Office 365, including Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams and OneDrive.

• HACCP and GMP knowledge would be advantageous.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Production Planning and Delivery

• Deliver the approved daily and shift production plans.

• Confirm start-up readiness, staffing, products, production lines and equipment to ensure production starts on time.

• Direct supervisors and production teams to achieve planned output.

• Manage line balancing, changeovers and production bottlenecks.

• Validate production requirements against line capacity, labour availability, production sequences and incoming raw material information.

2. Yield and Waste Management

• Maximise recovery from raw materials.

• Track yield by batch and shift.

• Investigate production variances and implement corrective actions.

• Reduce floor waste, product giveaway and rework.

• Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency and minimise losses.

3. Process Compliance and Quality

• Enforce approved work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and production standards.

• Issue clear written shift instructions.

• Coordinate with the Quality team regarding production floor checks and non-conformances.

• Maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene, quality and operational discipline.

4. Production Systems and Reporting

• Take ownership of the production function's use of Marel/Innova systems.

• Ensure that system inputs, outputs, inventory movements and configuration data are accurate and complete.

• Use production data to monitor performance, identify recurring losses and delays, and support operational decision-making.

• Maintain accurate production reporting and monitor performance against established KPIs and standards.

5. Traceability and Product Coding

• Maintain complete and accurate product identification from raw materials through to finished goods.

• Verify batch information, production lines and product labels.

• Ensure that traceability processes are followed and gaps are eliminated.

6. Bills of Materials and Packaging Compliance

• Ensure production uses approved materials.

• Confirm packaging specifications and tare settings.

• Control material top-up requests and returns.

• Maintain compliance with approved Bills of Materials and packaging requirements.

7. People Management and Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop supervisors and production teams.

• Establish shift priorities and ensure that teams understand production targets.

• Address attendance, conduct and performance issues through the appropriate disciplinary channels.

• Maintain effective workforce supervision and promote accountability.

8. Safety and Operational Discipline

• Maintain safe, orderly and hygienic production practices.

• Work collaboratively with Operations and Quality teams to uphold workplace standards.

• Ensure employees adhere to operational procedures and safety requirements.

9. Continuous Improvement

• Use production data to identify recurring operational losses, inefficiencies and delays.

• Support automation initiatives and scale integration trials.

• Implement and standardise successful process improvements.

• Promote continuous improvement across production operations.